MANSFIELD, Pa. – Edinboro women's basketball head coach
Stan Swank became the all-time wins leader among men's and women's basketball coaches in the PSAC with his 560th career win, as the #24/16 Edinboro women's basketball team defeated Mansfield, 81-54 at Decker Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. The Fighting Scots improved to 6-0 on the season and 3-0 in the PSAC West, while the Mountaineers fell to 3-4 and 1-2 in the PSAC East.
Swank, who already held the title for most wins by a women's basketball coach in the PSAC, entered Saturday's contest tied with former Bloomsburg men's basketball coach Charles Chronister with 559 career victories.
Coach Swank is in his 31st season as the women's basketball head coach at Edinboro. He entered this season with a 554-301 overall record, and has won at least 20 games in each of Edinboro's last seven seasons. In his time as head coach, he has led the program to four PSAC Championship titles and ten NCAA Division II Tournament appearances. During March Madness, the Fighting Scots have made two Elite Eight appearances, three Sweet Sixteen births, and the Round of 32 on four occasions.
In the win over Mansfield, Edinboro trailed early at 2-0, as Brielle Kelly got the Mountaineers on the board at 8:29. Over the next two minutes,
Michaela Barnes and
Whitney Allen each split a pair of free throws, followed by layups from Kelly and
Ciara Rosten.
After two ties and one lead change, Edinboro embarked on its first of three scoring runs in the opening half. During the three runs, the Fighting Scots outscored Mansfield by a combined 23-0, and the run totaling nearly 12 minutes of action.
In their first run, which started at 6:27, the Boro scored six points off four Mountaineer turnovers. With 2:03 on the clock, Taylor Melanie ended the Scots run with a 3-pointer, but the Boro responded by scoring seven points over the next 67 seconds.
The Fighting Scots led 17-10 to start the second quarter, as Kelly quickly scored a layup and trimmed the Edinboro lead to five points.
Again, the Scots responded on a run, as they took advantage of Mountaineer turnovers. Edinboro forced five more turnovers, and outscored Mansfield, 11-0 with five minutes having gone by. They ended the quarter on an 8-1, taking advantage of five more turnovers.
With 20 minutes in the books, the Fighting Scots led 38-19 at halftime. Edinboro finished the half with 23 of their 38 points coming off 17 turnovers, and held an 18-6 advantage in points in the paint.
Turnovers and points in the paint continued to be an issue for Mansfield in the second half. At the end of the game, the Fighting Scots had totaled 45 points off 28 turnovers, and outscored the Mountaineers, 44-20, in the paint.
Edinboro ended the game shooting 37.8 percent on the game (31-of-82), while holding Mansfield to 30.2 percent from the floor (19-of-63).
Jontay Walton led all players with 21 points on 7-of-16 shooting. The 5'5" guard also went a perfect 6-of-6 on free throws. Rosten recorded her second double-double of the season. The senior forward scored 12 points, tied her season-high of 15 rebounds and blocked five shots.
Michelle Jahn added 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including three 3-pointers.
Cheniya Sharpe came off the bench for a game-high three steals, to go along with six rebounds in just 11 minutes.
For the Mountaineers, Kelly notched her first double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Kelly has recorded at least eight rebounds in six straight contests. Alyssa Mullins contributed 10 points and seven rebounds, and Mia Leonard came off the bench for 10 points.
Edinboro continues PSAC action tomorrow, as the Fighting Scots travel to Lock Haven to face the Bald Eagles. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
